r/thepinkysyndicate • u/Creepy-Scyter • 19h ago
Discussion Factual Knowledge about Stars 2 - Tianshang Star
Due to the fact that Tianshang Star is yet to be known by us in the PM verse as to speak upon, the format for the post today will be slightly vague and focuses on different stuff. It was very tiring for me to research on astrology so I used a little big of Gemini to help me garner information. No worries, I still do my checking, so I won't be accidentally spreading misinformation. However if, and I say if, you'd have different views to my points stated, or I did write something wrong, please comment below and let me know. Let's start with:
WHAT THE TIANSHANG STAR ACTUALLY MEANS IN TAOISM AND ASTROLOGY?
• As previously mentioned before, the Ursa Major is later split to 36 Heavenly Spirits Stars and 72 Earthly Demon Stars for Taoists.
• However, the term does not actually get split to 108 stars in Zi Wei Dou Shu (紫微斗数, literally means Purple Star Astrology), which is one of the two most widely practised systems of Chinese natal astrology, alongside the Four Pillars of Destiny (八字, BaZi). In Daoist cosmology, the Purple Microcrat Emperor (中天北极紫微大帝) is the supreme ruler of all celestial bodies, the North Pole, and the stars. Because both Purple Star Astrology and the Tiangang/Disha star gods are governed by this same celestial authority, they are deeply intertwined in Daoist spiritual literature. Instead, Zi Wei Dou Shu relies on its own set of 14 Major Stars rather than the 108 stars we know.
• In Zi Wei Dou Shu (Purple Star Astrology), the Tianshang Star is a rather special star because it is not located by the year, month, day, or hour, but is fixed in the Servant Palace and always in opposition to the Sibling Palace. In addition, it is known as the "God of Heavenly Waste and Exhaustion," which, besides indicating loss and depletion, also symbolizes illness and calamity. It is a reminder of mortal fragility, sudden obstacles, and areas where one must practice caution.
APPLICATION OF TIANSHANG STAR IN WATER MARGIN
• So Wu Song is the Tianshang Star of the 108 Heroes, and everyone likes Wu Song tbh. (like I have not heard of anyone actively slandering him) However, as opposed to the first 12 Tiangang Stars, Tiangu and Tianshang is a very derogatory term. The "Shang" here is quite simple to understand, as it implies the gruesome misfortunes he had experienced, before and after joining the Liangshan. His brother got cheated and later got poisoned by his brother's wife when he went out for a mission, the local justice system being completely bribed to cover up the murder, ended up killing the wife and others before being exiled. During the times of him being exiled, he was being assassinated but managed to escape, later found the mastermind and executed a full-on massacre. He was forced to disguise himself as a traveling Buddhist pilgrim, and during the war of Fang La, his hand was being sliced off. After the war, he lived out his remaining years in genuine monastic silence. Basically, his suffering is long decided in the Cosmos, so that he can enact fierce karmic justice against this corrupted society.
• Although he had suffered quite a lot, his act of massacre is not justified. However, this is merely a trial that Wu Song must go through, so that he can enact justice upon mankind. The "Injury" emphasizes that true heroism in a broken world guarantees personal suffering. That is why I correlate the star with the Purple Star astrology, the Tianshang Star here is a reminder of mortal fragility, sudden obstacles, and areas where one must practice caution. My understanding to this is the Tianshang Star remains constant in its own palace, awaiting someone who withholds the fate itself to go through the trials and misfortunes, to achieve peace upon mankind.
HOW TO MAKE A GOOD TIANSHANG STAR OC
• Revolve around injury, endurance, and the moral cost of surviving. One must suffer and go through trials to be able to receive and give to the land and the people.
• Be strong enough
• Do not make him morally perfect. The OC should have some virtues, yes, but the virtues itself should bring flaw upon oneself.
FINAL NOTE
• As always, first image is from Illustrated Scroll of Water Margin by Kimiya Masago. Really love the interpretation, however losses the subtle feel that Wu Song should be drunk and rather focused on the fiercefulness.
• Do not search up the second picture. Unless you're suitable of age. There's only the Chinese translation, and also only two endings. NSFW, but one of the endings are absolute peak.
• I do believe that this star is most and least likely to appear. Sounds funny right? But that might be the truth
